Listing apparatus



Sept. 26, 1939. H. K. JENSEN 4 LISTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23; 1938 FIG 1. FIG. 2. FIG. 5

MODERN i SHOPPING LIST BACON 24 BEER BREAD TEA DESSERTS TOMATOES V E 665 VI NEGAR INVVENTOR: HARRY K. JENSEN Wyn ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES l ATENT OFFlCE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in listing apparatus and, more particularly, to a combined memorandum and listing device.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a mechanical indicator serving as a memorandum for the purchase of commodities, such as groceries, which will deliver a punched list of the items desired.

Another object is to so design the apparatus that it may be produced entirely from sheet metal stampings at very low cost.

Another object is to provide simple means for feeding the lists to be punched into proper registry with the punching means.

Other objects and advantages appear as this description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawing, the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. It is to be understood, however,

.that it may be embodied in other forms within the purview of the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a listing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same taken along the line IlIIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in vertical section showing the list punching means.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the punches.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 2 and showing the details of the lower portion of the casing.

Fig. '7 is a plane view, in somewhat reduced scale, of the lower portion of a punched list, the preceding list being shown in dotted lines.

In detail, the construction illustrated in the drawing comprises the sheet metal casing having the back I which can be conveniently fixed to the wall or to a suitable bracket by the thumbtacks 2, 3 driven through holes provided in the back I. The sides 4, 5 (see Fig. 3) are bent inwardly from the back I and then bent inwardly to form the flanges 6, I overhanging the back I. The lower portion of the back I is bent inwardly to form the strut 8 which abuts the tongues 9, 9 struck inwardly from the flanges 6, I to increase the stability of the structure.

The front of the casing is closed by the cover I having the lateral flanges II, I2 snugly fitting over the sides 4, 5. The cover pivots on the studs I3, I4 which extend through its flanges I I, I2 and the sides 4, of the casing. When closed, the cover is maintained in position by friction.

The continuous strip of paper a: is cross-perforated at intervals as at Y, see Fig. '7, and has manifold commodity lists printed thereon intermediate the perforations. The several items are preferably arranged alphabetically in a double row as indicated in Fig. 7. Trade names and other advertising can be associated with the.

various items. The printed strip a: is folded'back and forth on the perforations Y to form a compact bundle for insertion in the present device.

The cover I!) is swung outward on its pivot I3, I4 to permit the entry of the folded strip a: between the back I and the flanges 6, 1. The removable sheet metal guide I 5, when placed in position, is supported by the lugs I6 upset therefrom which engage under the upper edges of the flanges 6, I. One end of the paper strip a: is drawn over the guide I5 and then downwardly to the lower end of the flanges 6, I, as at A. When the cover I0 is closed, the length A of the paper strip is confined between the cover and the flanges 6, I of the casing.

The cover ID has the upset channels I1, I8 therein extending adjacent the edges of the underlying length A of the paper strip. The series of punches I9I9 have their bodies disposed in the channels I'I, I8 and have the acute bends I9 therein which extend outwardly through the equidistantly spaced holes 29-40 provided in the channels. The bends I9 terminate in the tangential flat portions IS" with the adjacent reverse curves I9 having the trips I93: extending outwardly therefrom. The arrangement of the acute bends I 9 and the contiguous tangential portions I9" is such that the punches I 9 cannot be displaced from their confining holes 20 when the cover I I] is opened.

The body of each of the punches I9 terminates in the angular nose 2I best shown in Fig. 5. Registering with each of the plurality of punches are the series of triangular slots 22, 22 in the flanges 6, I of the casing. Pushing any of the trips ISa: inwardly swings the punch on its pivot I9'20 and forces its angular nose through the registering triangular slot 22, thus punching the sheet A as indicated in Fig. 4 to form an angular line of severance.

The cover ID has the list 24 of commodities thereon, the various items of which correspond to the items printed on the sheet A. When the need for replenishing various commodities is discovered, the appropriate trips I951: are pressed inward, punching the printed sheet A adjacent the items desired. After a trip I9zn is operated, its depressed condition serves as a memorandum that the need for the corresponding commodity has been listed.

It is important that the printed'sheet' A assume a predetermined position in the device in proper registry with the punches I9. This is effected by the following means: The lower end of the cover I has the sprags 25, 26 indented therein. The spring fingers 21, 21 on the flanges 6, 1 urge the sheet A into operative engagement with the sprags. At each of the perforations Y the strip a: has the pair of holes 2 therein which are adapted to be entered by the sprags 25, 26 which abut the upper edges of the holes to prevent further downward movement of the sheet A. When the sprags 25, 26 are thus engaged in the holes Z, the items on the sheet A are in proper registry with the punches [9.

The lower edge of the cover II] has the recess 29 therein to permit the sheet A to be grasped by the fingers of the user. When it is desired r to go to the market for the purchase of the listed commodities, the lower end of the sheet A is grasped and pushed inward slightly. This releases the edges of the holes Z from engagement with the sprags 25, 26. The sheet A is then pulled downward. The spring fingers 21, 21 restore the sheet into engagement with the sprags 25, 26. When the succeeding pair of holes Z engage the sprags, further withdrawal of the sheet is prevented. At this juncture, the perforations Y are aligned with the lower edge of the cover It), thus enabling the punched sheet A to be readily detached from the remainder of the strip at by tearing along the perforations Y in an obvious manner.

When the punched sheet A is withdrawn, it will be apparent from examination of Fig. 4 that the tripped punches [9 will be automatically restored into inoperative position in readiness for another punching operation on the succeeding sheet. The withdrawal of the sheet will also cause the angular tongues severed by the punches 2! to catch on the slots 22. The continued withdrawal of the punched sheet will then fold the tongues backward to form triangular openings adjacent the items desired.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a series of slots therein; a continuous paper strip having manifold lists of items printed thereon and adapted to be contained in said casing; means for bringing a portion of said strip into a position overlying said slots; individual punches in operative relation to said slots and arranged to be selectively tripped to punch said strip; and means for permitting the withdrawal of the punched portion of said strip; said punches being so arranged that the tripped punches are automatically restored by the withdrawal of the punched portion of said strip.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a series of interspaced slots therein; a continuous paper strip having manifold lists of items printed thereon and adapted to be contained in said casing with a portion of the strip overlying said slots; the items on said strip being arranged so as to register with said slots; individual punches in operative relation to said slots and the overlying portion of said strip and adapted to be selectively tripped to punch said strip; a list of items identifying said punches and corresponding with the items printed on the list overlying said slots; and means for Withdrawing the punched portion of said strip; said punches being so arranged that the tripped punches are automatically restored by the withdrawal of the punched portion of said strip.

3. An apparatus of the class described coniprising a casing having a series of interspaced slots therein; a cover pivoted on said casing and adapted to overlie said slots; means for passing a paper strip having a list of items printed thereon between said cover and said slots; and a series of individual punches pivoted on said 1 cover and adapted to cooperate with said slots to punch said paper strip.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a series of interspaced slots therein; a cover mounted on said casing, adapted to overlie said slots, and having a channel therein opposite said series of slots; said cover having a series of holes therethrough communicating with said channel and each located near one of said slots; means for passing a paper strip between said cover and said slots; and a series means for passing a paper strip between said cover and said slots; and a series of punches lying in said channel in operative relation to said slots, each having an acute bend therein pivotally engaging one of the openings in said cover, and having a manually operated trip portion extending tangentially outward from said acute bend; said holes, acute bends, and tangential extensions being so arranged that said trips cannot be displaced from said holes when said cover is swung outward from said casing.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a series of interspaced slots therein; a cover mounted on said casing and adapted to overlie said slots; a continuous paper strip having perforations thereacross at intervals and holes adjacent said perforations; said casing being arranged to contain said strip and have one end of said strip brought between said cas ing and cover across the slots in said casing; punches on said cover in operative relation to said slots and arranged to be selectively tripped to punch said strip; means permitting the manual grasping of said end of the strip; and a sprag on said cover adapted to engage the holes in said strip.

'7. An apparatus of the class described com prising a casing having a series of interspaced slots therein; a cover mounted on said casing and adapted to overlie said slots; a continuous paper strip having manifold lists of items printed thereon, perforations thereacross at intervals, and holes adjacent said perforations; said casing being adapted to contain said strip and have one end of said strip brought between said casing and cover across the slots in said casing; punches on said cover in operative relation to said slots and arranged to be selectively tripped to punch said strip; said cover having a recess therein to permit the manual grasping of said end of the strip; a sprag on said cover adapted to engage the holes in said strip to limit its manual withdrawal from said casing; and a spring finger on said casing urging said strip into operative engagement with said sprag.

HARRY K. JENSEN. 

